State Briefs 9/30/08

Tuesday

Sep 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2008 at 10:40 PM

State Briefs 9/30/08

Cheap Trick guitarist’s construction project hits financing snag

ROCKFORD – The developers of a $25 million hotel and guitar museum just off Interstate 90 in northeast Rockford are taking bids from subcontractors for the hotel portion of the project even though they have been unable to secure financing.

Brent Johnson, president of Ringland-Johnson Construction of Cherry Valley, and Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen still hope to break ground in the spring but are caught up in the global credit crunch dominating the financial headlines.

In June, the Register Star reported that a $100 million, 400,000-square-foot outlet mall next door to Rick’s Place, a museum/restaurant/hotel complex envisioned by Nielsen, also was delayed over financing.

Don Chapman of Virginia-based Ariel Preferred Retail Group, which owns the project with Rockford-based Landmark Development, said then that construction should begin in September. The month is almost up, and no additional work has been done. Chapman said he wants to begin building the outlet mall when work starts on Rick’s Place.

Rockford Register Star

City will bill Obama for appearance

SPRINGFIELD – The city of Springfield intends to bill U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for the city’s cost to host Obama’s appearance Aug. 23 at the Old Capitol State Historic Site.

Ernie Slottag, spokesman for Mayor Tim Davlin, said Monday the city is still tallying expenses, but the total could exceed $50,000.

The city will send the bill to Obama’s campaign in the next couple of weeks, he said.

Justin DeJong, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, declined to comment about when asked if the campaign will pay the city’s bill.

The city is still sorting through employee timesheets to determine which employees were on duty for the campaign visit, Slottag said. A blues and barbeque festival also was held that Saturday on the Old Capitol Plaza.

Obama, who is from Chicago, introduced his running mate, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del, at the Old Capitol.

Slottag said the city’s biggest expense was police coverage, but he wouldn’t say how many officers were used, citing security.

State Journal-Register

Church vandalized with spray paint

ROCKFORD — A Rockford church and neighboring garage were vandalized over the weekend with spray paint.

Rockford police were called Sunday afternoon to St. Peter's Catholic Church in reference to a criminal defacement of property complaint.

Upon arrival, police noticed that spray paint was used to place symbols and words on the church's school playground and on the ground near the church.

According to police reports, the letters "RTS" and the words "Rock Town Skaters" were spray painted on the church's property and on a garage.

Rockford Register Star

County board member will not be prosecuted for obstructing justice

PEKIN — Tazewell County Board member Mike Godar, arrested last week for obstructing justice, will not be prosecuted, Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz said.

Godar's arrest came after a party Sept. 13 in which East Peoria police cited eight underage drinkers for illegal consumption of alcohol.

One of the girls cited phoned Godar, 52, of Washington, in front of police, called him "dad" and asked if he would come pick her and another girl up, Umholtz said.

Godar did so but took them to his home instead of their homes, Umholtz said.

One girl's father later called police, upset because his underage daughter was released into the custody of someone else.

Umholtz said Godar didn't misrepresent himself to police at the party.

Godar was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at his home, nearly two weeks after the party. He was released later that afternoon. East Peoria police would not comment on the case.

Journal Star, Peoria

Woman jumped from Jeep during argument, police say

HANNA CITY – A woman who had to be flown to the hospital after exiting a moving vehicle Sunday apparently jumped from the Jeep during an argument, according to police reports.

Candy L. Hyatt, 49, was a passenger in a Jeep while Joseph E. Virgil, 51, drove on Illinois Route 116 near its intersection with Hanna City-Glasford Road about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

A Peoria County Sheriff's Department report indicated the pair - the relationship between them was not identified in the report - were arguing about Hyatt's new job when the woman jumped out of the moving vehicle.

Virgil told police he was driving about 35 miles per hour when she jumped.

Deputies said several empty beer cans were discovered in the back of the Jeep, and Virgil told authorities he had "five, six, maybe seven" beers before the argument.

He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Journal Star, Peoria

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